Alan Cheeks
About Alan Cheeks
Alan Cheeks serves as the Executive Director of Research Operations and Chief of Staff for Cell Therapy at Kite Pharma, where he has worked since 2019. He has extensive experience in clinical operations and regulatory writing, having held leadership positions at various pharmaceutical companies.
Work at Kite Pharma
Alan Cheeks has been serving as the Executive Director of Research Operations and Chief of Staff for Cell Therapy and CAR-T at Kite Pharma since 2019. In this role, he manages personnel, timelines, processes, and electronic systems critical to the research operations. He acts as the research executive representative on cross-functional workgroups at both Kite and its parent company, Gilead. His responsibilities include overseeing regulatory writing and clinical biomarker logistics, which are essential for advancing cell therapy research and translational medicine.
Education and Expertise
Alan Cheeks holds a Master of Arts in Physiology and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, both from the University of Southern California. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his work in the field of cell therapy and clinical research. His expertise encompasses clinical operations, regulatory writing, and data governance, which are vital for the successful development of therapeutic interventions.
Previous Experience in Clinical Operations
Before his tenure at Kite Pharma, Alan Cheeks held several positions in clinical operations. He worked at Peregrine Pharmaceuticals as Manager of Clinical Operations from 2011 to 2012, where he managed pharmaceutical clinical trials. Prior to that, he served as Manager and Director of Clinical Studies at Quest Diagnostics from 2008 to 2009. Additionally, he was the Vice President of Operations at DxTerity from 2016 to 2018, focusing on medical device development and clinical trials.
Leadership in Drug Development Governance
In his current role at Kite Pharma, Alan Cheeks leads initiatives related to data governance and drug development governance. These initiatives are crucial for ensuring compliance and efficiency in the drug development process. His leadership in these areas contributes to the overall success of research operations and the advancement of cell therapy solutions.